The Best Monitors for Gaming

For the average set of eyeballs, there’s not much difference from monitor to monitor, but for games, it's all about the details. When you’re looking for the best monitor for gaming, start by considering its size, resolution, and pixel response rate. Most monitors you see are between 15 and 32 inches. We’d recommend one that's between 24 and 30 inches, depending on the size of your desk.

As with HDTVs, 1080p resolution is the standard, but if you’ve got a beefy rig, you can move into the WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) spectrum without much trouble. And again, just like TVs, monitors have also entered the 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) era, but there’s a limit to the amount of content that’s available natively in this resolution, so it’s still early adopter territory.

For a great gaming experience, pixel response rate is just as important. Measured in milliseconds (ms), it’s the time it takes for a pixel to change from black to white or to transition from one shade of gray to another shade of gray. The faster the pixel response rate, the less motion blur and other distractions you’ll find. Monitors have a much faster response rate than HDTVs, with the best boasting a rate of just 1ms (gray-to-gray). In general, a response rate of 6ms or less should satisfy most gamers. All but one of the monitors we’ve picked here meet that requirement; the exception is the 32-inch, 4K Dell UltraSharp 32 Ultra HD UP3214Q, which clocks in at 8ms. Relating to this spec is refresh rate, which starts at 60Hz and goes up to 120Hz and above.

Depending on your setup, you may also want to consider a display with speakers. While they won’t rock you like a 5.1 surround-sound setup or even a pair of satellite speakers, they’re nice to have, particularly if you’re a headphone gamer who wants to share a video with someone else. The Asus VG278HE and the 4K Asus PB287Q, which you’ll find below, are our picks for the best monitors with speakers.

Finally, consider your connectivity options and the monitor’s stand. Make sure your monitor has HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI--whatever it’ll need to connect to your machine. Also check to see how adjustable the display will need to be for the best gameplay experience. And for convenience, you might want a display with USB ports for plugging in controllers and peripherals. If not, you can always grab a separate USB hub later on.

And now, without further ado, here are the best gaming monitors right now:

The BenQ XL2720Z offers a blazing fast pixel response rate (1ms), which, coupled with a 144Hz refresh rate and motion-blur reduction, gives you a top-notch gaming experience. It also sports three USB ports and a 1080p resolution. It doesn’t have the widest viewing angles, but a stand that swivels, tilts, and can be adjusted for up counters that nicely. Best of all, this 27-inch monitor, which earned an Editors' Choice award at sister site PCMag.com, is under $500.

The 24-inch BenQ RL2460HT is a smaller, no-frills version of the BenQ XL2720Z. You won't find any USB ports on the RL2460HT, but it boasts the same 1ms pixel response rate and 1080p resolution as the BenQ XL2720Z for less than half the price. It shares the somewhat narrow viewing angles of its more expensive sibling, but again an adjustable stand makes it perfectly suited for the average PC gaming setup.

For just a little more money the larger, 27-inch 1080p Acer H276HL "provides solid all-around performance and stylish aesthetics," says PCMag.com. While it earns an Editors' Choice award, it doesn't have many features, and its pixel response rate is 5ms; higher than the previous two BenQ models, but still an acceptable figure. It also has the light bleed you'll often see with IPS displays, and it lacks USB ports, but it's a solid choice for the price, especially if you spot a sale.

The 27-inch Asus ROG Swift PG278Q offers WQHD resolution, Nvidia's G-Sync technology, and a 1-millisecond gray-to-gray pixel response. This monitor is also 3D-ready and offers specialized gaming features such as LED lighting effects, a hot key to toggle between refresh rates of 60Hz, 120Hz and 144Hz. You can also choose between four different crosshair overlays for more accurate aiming. The Asus ROG Swift also offers plenty of ports and can even be mounted to wall (kit not included).

The 27-inch Asus VG278HE "handles gaming and video with aplomb" thanks to its 2ms pixel response and 144Hz refresh rate. Its built-in 3-watt speakers are loud and crisp to boot. The VG278HE supports Nvidia's 3D Vision 2 with LightBoost technology, but it doesn't come with a glasses kit, nor does it have USB ports.

The 24-inch Asus VG248QE is a bit faster, with a pixel response of 1ms and a 144Hz refresh rate. Like the VG278HE, it's 3D-capable, but also does not come bundled with Nvidia's 3D Vision 2 Wireless Glasses kit, which costs an extra $140 or so. It doesn't offer USB ports either, but it's adjustable, and includes "moderately loud" 2-watt speakers.

For not much more than the BenQ XL2720Z, our overall best, the 28-inch, UHD Asus PB287Q offers a 1ms response rate and two built-in, moderately loud speakers. It "delivers stunning 4K imagery and handles fast motion with aplomb," according to PCMag.com, and is fully adjustable, though it lacks USB ports.

If you're in the mood to splurge, the Dell UltraSharp 32 Ultra HD UP3214Q, at 32 inches, is the largest and priciest (about $2500) monitor in this roundup, and sports "exquisite 4K image detail along with very accurate colors," say PCMag.com editors. In exchange for these features, you're left with a high response rate of 8ms, and though the monitor offers five USB 3.0 ports, all of them are located on the rear and aren’t that easily accessible. Good thing you can tilt and swivel this one.